In Search of Summer Real-Estate Love

Looking for your perfect match in a vacation home? Mansion’s guide to real-estate romance, whether you’re in the market for a beachy retreat or mountain getaway.

The commitment to buying a vacation home can be as daunting as entering into a serious relationship. The goal is to find a summer getaway that offers long-term satisfaction. PHOTO: DANIEL CASSIDY/SEA WOLF CREATIVE

This could be the summer you meet your soul mate—the real-estate version, anyway.

The commitment to buy a vacation home, with all the headaches and expenses that come with upkeep and maintenance, can be as daunting as entering into a serious relationship. It had better be right. Home buyers often make the same mistakes as daters: They act on impulse without thinking about the long term; they choose places that seem great on paper but aren’t really right for them; and they don’t take into account how much it will all cost....